Steve Jeffrard will replace Callum Johnson as Joe Smith's (27-3, 21 KOs) opponent on January 15 in the ESPN Main Event in Verona, NY. Jeffrard, 31, (18-2, 12 KOs) was set to fight Argentinean Gonzalo Andreasen (7-8, 6 KOs, 1 NC) this coming Saturday in Delray Beach, Florida.
Jeffrard agreed to a tough fight against the WBO light heavyweight champion for a reasonable fee and eight days before the event. Jeffrard is not in the WBO top 15, which is a requirement to qualify for a title fight, but Smith-Jeffrard is expected to be sanctioned for the WBO title.
Callum Johnson, 36, (20-1, 14 KOs), Smith's original opponent, tested positive for COVID-19 this week and withdrew from the bout on Thursday this week.
Johnson replaced Umar Salamov as Smith's rival in mid-November after Salamov was unable to obtain a visa to the United States to meet with Smith on January 15. Salamov (26-2, 19 KOs) lost by unanimous decision to WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol (19-0, 11 KOs) on December 11 in Yekaterinburg.
Jeffrard will fight Smith after a streak of 18 wins. He hasn't lost since Travis Reeves (then 0-1-1) defeated him by split decision in a 4-round bout in June 2013 in Florida. In a previous fight, Kentrell Claiborne (then 2-6) stopped Jeffrard in the third round of his professional debut in February 2013 in Detroit.
